Bonkers Blog May 2013

There has been no change to
Bexley council’s announcement that Broadway’s traffic flow will revert back to normal
by the end of this month; I can only assume that they know what they are talking
about but it was all something of a mess this afternoon.

A
correspondent had emailed this morning to say that his bus to Bluewater took 25
minutes to get from the Bowling Alley to the Clocktower but by the time I got
there that section was relatively clear. I can only assume that there must have
been a critical construction manoeuvre to be accomplished in Albion Road.

However the problems had not gone away, the queue to Albion Road extended back to Crook Log.

Another
email correspondent was concerned about my
close shave with a bus last weekend when I stood too
close to the red demarcation line which passes for a kerb and the bus driver
drifted too close to the pedestrian area, presumably interpreting the ‘shared
space’ idea very liberally. The emailer’s young daughter had done much the
same, so I thought I'd see if it was likely to be a common event.

It was not the sort of weather to encourage standing around to capture a good example and the
best I could get before being washed away was the photograph you see alongside.

If your viewing screen is well adjusted you may just be able to distinguish the
red tactile strip from the road, the larger view (click image) will improve
matters. Goodness knows what will happen during a snowfall.

The
contractors were no doubt hindered by the appalling weather but there is a lot of clearing
up to be done in the next six days if the council is going to achieve its goal.

The road outside ASDA was being resurfaced with ordinary tarmacadam. I thought
the original plan
was for blocks throughout Broadway. It would be a shame if it is to become a black and white patchwork - but it may be safer.

The
trees have been planted and were being well watered in. Is it a good idea to
site a tree less than two feet from a road carrying a near
constant procession of double deck buses?